Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of North Carolina for 2024. For the last two years, North Carolina has been ranked the number one state for business, and it was recently named one of the best places to start a business. From small startups to top corporations, The Tar Heel State is an attractive choice for leaders in a variety of industries, including finance, technology, research, manufacturing, tourism, and more.
Leading at the intersection of health and technology is awardee Jessica Dill Gidney, the Chief Audit Executive of Bioventus, an international medical device company. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Gidney provides assurance, advice, and insight to improve the company’s operations.
Leading in the entertainment space, Donna Julian is an award-winning, highly respected entertainment executive serving Hornets Sports & Entertainment as an Executive Vice President and General Manager for the Spectrum Center.
Lastly, we honor a high-level executive at Red Hat, the world's leading provider of enterprise open-source solutions – the Chief of Staff and global business leader, Chassidy Cook.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of North Carolina for 2024.
1. Marisa Thalberg
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, United Parks & Resorts
Marisa Thalberg is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of United Parks & Resorts, a global theme park and entertainment company that owns or licenses a diverse portfolio of award-winning park brands and experiences. The company is one of the world's foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry, and veterinary care.
Thalberg is a globally recognized business strategist and brand-building innovator, known for inspiring teams to take brands to new heights of consumer resonance, cultural relevance, and business performance. A pioneer of digital, social, and eCommerce marketing, she has orchestrated blockbuster product launches, and unexpected cultural moments, and has moved with uncommon ease between industries like beauty and QSR, retail and CPG, brand and performance marketing, mass and prestige.
Previously, Thalberg was an executive vice president and chief brand and marketing officer at Lowe's Companies, Inc. Before that, she was, she was a global chief brand officer at Taco Bell. Earlier in her career, she worked with Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising as an account executive. Thalberg earned an undergraduate degree in American civilization from Brown University.
2. Laura Allen
Head of Strategy & Programs, Accessibility & Disability Inclusion, Google
Laura Allen is the Head of Strategy and Programs for Accessibility and Disability Inclusion at Google. She works cross-functionally across teams to improve the accessibility and usability of Google products and processes and to make Google a more accessible and equitable place for people with disabilities. In addition to her core role, Allen is the Global Head of Operations of the Disability Alliance Employee Resource Group. Due to her personal experience with low vision, she believes that technology has more power now than ever to transform lives, and progressing accessibility and disability inclusion is her true passion and purpose.
Before her role as head of strategy and programs, Allen served as the senior accessibility program manager for the Chrome and Chrome OS teams at Google. For over six years, she collaborated with engineers, designers, product managers, and researchers to make the Chrome family of products accessible and usable across platforms, for people of all abilities.
Allen also represents Google in the Teach Access organization, where various technology companies, higher education institutions, and disability advocacy organizations come together to drive the inclusion of accessibility in core computer science, design, human-centered interaction programs, and other key disciplines to close the accessibility skills gap. As of 2020, she serves as the Chair of the Teach Access Board of Directors. Since 2017, Allen has also served on the board of directors for the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and is the second vice chair. Since 2020, she’s also served on the board of the Alphapointe Foundation, an organization centered around empowering individuals who are visually impaired to achieve their goals and aspirations and gain meaningful employment. In 2023, Allen joined the board of inABLE Africa, an organization striving to empower people with disabilities across Africa. For her undergraduate education, Allen studied international business, marketing, and music at Georgetown University. She also completed an Executive Leadership graduate program at Stanford University in 2021.
3. Mary Elizabeth Tillman Barwick
Vice President of Strategic Engagement, Reynolds American
Mary Elizabeth Tillman Barwick, Vice President of Strategic Engagement for Reynolds American, is responsible for leading the company’s engagement on critical strategic initiatives, including their focus on tobacco harm reduction. She is tasked with driving new avenues for engagement and increasing visibility with external stakeholders, legislators, regulators, and organizations that enhance harm reduction policies.
Before her role as VP, Barwick was a senior director of state government relations. She joined Reynolds in 2015. Before Reynolds, she managed her own consulting company, 2468 Partnership Inc., and worked with corporate, nonprofit, and campaign management clients. Her client list included Reynolds, Genentech, Rep. Patrick McHenry, Rep. Tom Latham, Rep. Chris Lee, The Oorbeek Group, BIPAC, Common Threads, and Immigration Works.
While living in Washington DC, Barwick worked for UST and Wal-Mart after leaving Capitol Hill, where she served under US Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC). Barwick graduated from Appalachian State University.
4. Sackeena Gordon-Jones
Founder & Chief Coaching Officer, Transformation Edge Coaching and Consulting
Sackeena Gordon-Jones is an award-winning global executive and leadership coach, leadership consultant, strategist, speaker, coach educator, and author. She is the Founder and Chief Coaching Officer of Transformation Edge Coaching and Consulting, a women-owned firm that provides executive, leadership, group, team, and mentor coaching, strategic planning, customized science-based inclusion training, consulting, and keynote speaking services.
Gordon-Jones has spent her career helping leaders learn, develop, strategize, improve thinking, make better decisions, lead inclusively, transform team and organization culture, deliver impact, and foster extraordinary results. Her clients are international and multicultural, and across industries, including C-suite, women in leadership, executives, clinicians, military and government leaders, high-tech, finance, pharma, manufacturing, and health care. Her signature approach, gives leaders the edge, to become more transformational, and intentional, create a bigger impact, champion change, develop strong teams, clarify values, execute strategically, and overcome behavioral derailleurs so that they can lead more effectively and authentically.
Gordon-Jones is also the director of the Transformation & Business Coach Institute, which provides open enrollment and customized coach training programs for academic medical centers, the US military, and high-tech, to name a few. Before coaching, Gordon-Jones was head of global leadership, learning, and organization development. She has served the International Coaching Federation (ICF), as well as, the Association of Coach Training Organizations, on the local, regional, and global levels. She is currently a fellow with the Institute of Coaching and holds the Master Certified Coach Credential from ICF. Gordon-Jones is a member of the African Diaspora and has family members on four continents.
5. Lyudmila Mishra
SVP & Head of Deposit Operations Technology (Commercial and Private Bank), Flagstar Bank
As the SVP and Head of Deposit Operations Technology for Commercial and Private Banking, Lyudmila Mishra plays a crucial role in orchestrating the integration program of Signature Bank to Flagstar Bank as a result of the recent acquisition. This program is at the heart of the bank’s strategic initiatives, aimed at modernizing infrastructure and ensuring seamless operations to meet the evolving needs of private client and commercial bank customers.
Mishra is a seasoned technology executive with extensive experience in the banking and finance industry. With a strong background in technology strategy, digital transformation, and innovation, she has led numerous initiatives that have driven operational efficiency, customer engagement, and growth for financial institutions. In addition, Mishra also has worked for software product companies, where she led the development of cloud-based solutions that delivered value to many other industries, such as automotive and health care.
Mishra began her career as a software engineer, where she gained a deep understanding of software development and infrastructure. She transitioned to the financial industry and joined Wells Fargo as the head of personal lending technology. Under her leadership, the bank successfully implemented an award-winning solution that allowed customers to get immediate access to funds via small-dollar loans with just a few clicks. In addition, she was responsible for revamping the originations experience for personal loan originations. Before that, Mishra was head of technology for fraud and claims for Bank of America, where she was responsible for formulating and executing the bank's Fraud and Claims Dispute Management technology strategy. Mishra holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Oakland University and an undergraduate degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Andhra University, India.
7. Marykay Wells
Chief Information Officer, Pearson
Marykay Wells, Pearson’s Chief Information Officer, has successfully demonstrated over a 30-year executive-level career in IT that CIOs can have a far-reaching positive impact beyond a technology domain. Wells leads a team of around 2000 IT professionals worldwide, building state-of-the-art global platforms and solutions to drive a step change in efficiency, simplicity, and consistently great user and customer experiences. She employs a multi-faceted approach to leadership, simplifying the technology, speeding up delivery to market, and providing a work environment that highlights both diversity and innovation. Wells challenges and insists on looking for new ways to move the business forward - leveraging both recent technologies and embracing strong partnerships.
Wells is also active in tackling issues around diversity in the IT industry. In 2018, she launched a Women in Technology initiative at Pearson focused on attracting, retaining, and developing talent worldwide across all Pearson Technology. Under her executive sponsorship, there has been an almost double-digit growth in women in technology fields at Pearson rising from 21% to 30%, with active plans to improve this further and increase male allyship.
Wells and her teams have received numerous internal and external awards recognizing her contributions. Most recent awards include the 2021 Google Cloud Customer of the Year, Stevie Award for CRM Excellence, Women in Tech Excellence Award as CIO of the Year in 2020; Women in IT awards - IT Team of the Year Led by a Woman in 2020, and Pearson 2019 Chairman’s Changemaker Award for her leadership in driving meaningful digital business optimization and transformation at Pearson.
8. Kelly Marolt
Vice President, Butin PR
Kelly Marolt is the Vice President of Buton PR, a mid-sized PR, marketing, and communications agency specializing in food and beverage, travel and leisure, and lifestyle & technology brands.
With over 10 years of PR strategy experience under her belt, Marolt specializes in developing communications programs that bridge the elusive gap between building awareness at scale and generating bottom-line business impact. She has successfully built and directed several award-winning campaigns and has received national recognition for her brand-building work. Marolt was recently named one of PR News’ “PR People of the Year."
Before her current position with Butin PR, Marolt served as a director of accounts. Before that, she was an account supervisor. She graduated from North Carolina State University with an undergraduate degree in public relations with a nonprofit studies minor.
View the complete list of awardees.
9. Michelle Weston
Vice President of Security & Resiliency, Kyndryl
Michelle Weston, a well-known leader in the resiliency industry, is the Global Vice President for Security and Resiliency at Kyndryl. She has over 20 years of experience in the IT industry leading development, sales, offering management, and corporate strategy across hardware, software, and services.
Weston spent the early part of her career in IBM Research as a research staff member, where she was responsible for breakthrough innovation in the field of microelectronics. She is a PhD chemist, inventor, and author with 38 US patents and many publications.
Weston is responsible for portfolio leadership, through co-creation and collaboration with Kyndryl’s strategic partners and alliances. She is passionate about cyber resilience and loves shaping and evangelizing security and resiliency services in the market for Kyndryl. She is often invited to speak at conferences to share her thoughts on the industry and emerging trends.
10. JoBeth Souza
SVP & Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor, Setzer Souza and Associates
JoBeth Souza is a Senior Vice President and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor for Setzer Souza and Associates. She is a partner on her team, which manages over $464 million in assets, and also served as a senior portfolio advisor, and retirement benefits consultant. She holds multiple industry designations, including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor™, Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™.
Souza and the team have a strong commitment to excellence and integrity. The team’s mission is to help clients identify their financial needs and provide them with the tools necessary to create and maintain their desired lifestyle. They help clients pursue their goals by managing assets on a discretionary basis, utilizing customized portfolios or third-party investment strategies. She utilizes her acumen and 30 years of industry experience to develop goals-based investment and retirement planning strategies for high-net-worth individuals and multi-generational families.
After graduating with honors from Wake Forest University, Souza began her career in the securities industry in 1993. She joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as a registered client associate in 1997 and transitioned from that role to a financial advisor in 2007. In her free time, Souza enjoys traveling, reading, kayaking, playing piano, taking dance lessons, and spending time with family and friends. She is passionate about volunteering for The XLH Network, a nonprofit organization that supports her daughter’s rare disease. She lives in Lewisville, NC, with her son and daughter.
11. Nancy Klembus
SVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Domtar
Nancy Klembus has over 20 years of experience practicing law in the paper and personal care industry. She currently serves as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary for Domtar, responsible for all legal affairs, corporate secretary duties, and internal audit. Previously she held the position of vice president, and deputy general counsel, as well as vice president, of law, and administration for Domtar’s US Personal Care Division.
Klembus previously worked in private practice and in-house at Kimberly-Clark, where she managed various legal matters in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Before attending law school, she worked at General Motors in engineering, reliability, and manufacturing.
Klembus earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University, a Master’s in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a JD from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is licensed to practice law in Michigan and Georgia, as well as before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
12. Kim Drumgo
Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Geisinger Health System
Kim Drumgo was named Geisinger’s first Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer in 2021. In her role, Drumgo champions and guides the organization to better understand the importance and value of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, as well as catalyzes change at Geisinger. She provides system-wide thought leadership, strategic direction, and implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion-related programs and initiatives.
Drumgo brings over 15 years of experience in the diversity and inclusion field and has a strong track record setting DEI strategies, engaging stakeholders, and driving results. She has held leadership roles in several organizations, including Most recently, serving as chief diversity officer for Anthem Inc., where she led more than 63,000 leaders and employees in having authentic, compassionate conversations about race, social justice, and health equity. She has also held leadership roles at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.
Drumgo earned her undergraduate degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her MBA from the University of Maryland.
13. Jacquelyn Johnson
VP of People & Culture, Volvo Financial Services
Jacquelyn Johnson is the Vice President of People and Culture for Volvo Financial Services, the global finance arm of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment, and marine and industrial engines.
Johnson is a strategic business partner and catalyst for innovative initiatives that address today’s business challenges of attaining revenue goals, controlling expenses, satisfying customers, and attracting/retaining talent while achieving business and profitability objectives. Before joining Volvo Financial Services, Johnson was a director of global people and development at Ralph Lauren. Before that, she was a senior HR manager and HR business partner at Paychex. Earlier in her career, she worked with Studio Plus as a general manager.
Outside of her role with Volvo, Johnson is a certified leadership and career coach through the iPEC organization. She is also the executive director and founder of Beauty 4 Ashes International. Johnson graduated from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University with a Master's degree in Human Resources and from Bennett College for Women with an undergraduate degree in accounting. She also holds a certificate as a Human Resources professional (SHRM-SCP).
14. Chassidy Cook
Chief of Staff & Senior Manager, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Red Hat
Chassidy Cook is the Chief of Staff and Senior Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Red Hat, the world's leading provider of enterprise open-source solutions. She is a global business leader and certified diversity professional with more than 15 years of fresh, transformational leadership and a proven ability to tie diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to tangible business results.
Cook is an authentic, trusted leader with deep subject matter expertise and the ability to meet growing business demands while delivering world-class, proven diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. She’s known among her peers as an inspirational leader with a demonstrated ability to build, improve, and lead inclusion and belonging at scale across industries and a bias for action. Chassity leverages data insights and delivers practical solutions to solve large, complex DEI problems.
Before joining Red Hat, Cook served as a Senior DEI consultant for Blue Cross. Before that, she was as a development associate for D&I and philanthropy for Duke Health. She earned her undergraduate degree in international relations and affairs from Rollins College and a Master’s degree in Black History, Women’s History, and World History from American Public University.
15. Madeline Lacman
Vice President, Wells Fargo
Madeline Lacman epitomizes excellence and leadership in the financial industry, garnering recognition as a Vice President at Wells Fargo in Charlotte. As a Lead Control Management Officer, Lacman has played a pivotal role in shaping the risk management framework at Wells Fargo, through her leadership and contribution to the Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) initiative for the fixed income division within the Corporate and Investment Bank.
Drawing from her wealth of experience, Lacman’s strategic leadership has been instrumental in enhancing risk mitigation strategies and fostering a culture of compliance and accountability within the organization. Her innovative approaches to risk management have earned her widespread acclaim and admiration from colleagues and industry peers alike. Before her distinguished tenure at Wells Fargo, Lacman honed her expertise at Merrill Lynch, in Columbia, South Carolina. Her academic journey began at the University of South Carolina Honors College, where she distinguished herself as an exemplary student and active member of the community. Her passion for service and philanthropy extends beyond the workplace, as she dedicates her time to volunteering in her community and making a positive impact in the lives of others.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Lacman finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, whether it's playing with her beloved dog, staying active with Ultimate CrossFit in Charlotte, or embarking on adventures around the globe. Above all, Lacman cherishes moments spent with her loved ones, cherishing the bonds of family and friendship that enrich her life.
View the complete list of awardees.
16. Kristen Ambrose
Vice President and Studio Practice Leader, Education, HKS
Kristen Ambrose is a Vice President and Studio Practice Leader at HKS, Inc. She is a registered architect in NC, MD, PA, and TX with 17 years of experience designing environments for learning, science, technology, and healthcare.
Her experience in design, practice technologies, and design research originated within interdisciplinary architecture firms. Ambrose's expertise in BIM, computational design, and analytics has been in the form of practice-based, applied research for institutional clients and healthcare systems. She specializes in planning and programming to guide design decisions that support curricular and care objectives, operational efficiencies, and sustainable and resilient design. Ambrose focuses on design analytics and spatial data management utilizing digital media, specifically Autodesk Revit BIM, data, and visualization.
As an educator with over ten years of teaching experience in design disciplines, Ambrose teaches her students the design principles to improve the performance of the built environment. She has taught Foundations of Design and Digital Design courses, including Integrated Practice at the University of Maryland, College Park from 2008 to 2018, and continues to elevate practice by leveraging expertise in design, research, and analytics. Working across the design continuum by practicing higher education and educating practice, Ambrose provides invaluable insight into the design of environments that enable clients to support the holistic occupant experience. Ambrose graduated from Syracuse University with an undergraduate degree in architecture.
17. Jessica Dill Gidney
Chief Audit Executive, Bioventus
Jessica Dill Gidney has over 20 years of experience in audit and risk management. She currently serves as Chief Audit Executive at Bioventus, a publicly traded medical device company with international operations, where she oversees internal audit and the company’s efforts to comply with Sarbanes Oxley regulations. She is responsible for providing assurance, advice, and insight designed to add value and improve the company’s operations.
After joining Bioventus in 2020, Gidney oversaw internal control readiness for the company’s successful Initial public offering in 2021 and the integration of two acquired companies. Before Bioventus, she led Internal Audit teams at Red Hat and Duke University and has 15 years of public accounting experience in risk advisory, internal audit, and external audit at EY and Grant Thornton.
Gidney is a team-focused leader with a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion and has served on various DE&I committees, including being a founding member of Bioventus’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council and subcommittee leader for Employee Resource Groups. She currently serves as the audit committee chair for the Institute of Internal Auditors, Raleigh-Durham Chapter, and has served on the board of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Charlotte and Triangle chapters. Gidney earned an undergraduate degree in accounting and a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor.
18. Donna Julian
EVP & Spectrum Center General Manager, Hornets Sports & Entertainment
Donna Julian is an award-winning, highly respected entertainment executive with an impressive track record of success. She directs all aspects of major venue operations and administration, including event booking, public safety, arena marketing, and guest experience. She is recognized for her outstanding leadership in directing and overseeing the preparation, production, and execution of all arena events from performances by prominent entertainers and high-profile political conventions to major league sports and athletic competitions. Julian, who joined Hornets Sports & Entertainment in 2005, has directed the management of Spectrum Center since its inception, hosting over 150 sporting events, concerts, and family entertainment shows annually. Showcase acts that have performed at Spectrum Center include the Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Marc Anthony, and Andrea Bocelli.
Julian was honored as one of Sports Business Journal’s 2020 Game Changers, which recognizes women in the sports business who contribute to the success of the industry in multiple ways. Additionally, she was named one of VenuesNow’s 2019 Inaugural All-Stars, which recognizes top executives in sports, live entertainment, and venues who have made their mark in the industry and will continue to shape it in the coming years. She was also nominated for the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s 2018 Venue Executive of the Year.
In 2020, Julian was honored to assume the role of board chair for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas. She is also a foundation board member for the National Junior College Athletic Association, an executive committee member of the NC Sports Leadership Council, and a member of the Women Executives of Charlotte serving on the selection committee. She was recently appointed to the Leadership Committee of the International Association of Venue Managers. Julian received her undergraduate degree in athletics administration from Ohio University, was a four-year letter winner, and co-captain of the tennis team as a senior, as well as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
19. Julie Blasingim
President & Institutional Official, Univo IRB
Julie Blasingim is the President and Institutional Official for Univo IRB, where she develops and communicates a clear vision and strategy for the company in alignment with its mission and goals and leads the executive team in the formulation of strategic plans and initiatives to drive sustainable growth. Univo IRB offers the standard range of IRB solutions set apart by a flexible, service-first approach in everything from pre-submission regulatory consulting to guidance throughout the study.
Blasingim has over 18 years of regulatory, operational, and compliance experience in the human research protection field. She was previously the vice president of compliance and development at Elligo Health Research. She oversaw corporate-wide quality and training management systems, and she vetted, selected, implemented, and led the development of the eQMS system. She was responsible for setting company quality objectives and standards and designing policies, procedures, and systems that establish compliance.
Before Elligo, Blasingim served as the VP of corporate quality assurance, process improvement, and training for Advarra. Before Advarra, she played a key role in the development and expansion of several service lines at Schulman IRB, including clinical pharmacology/Phase I, institutional review and support, Central Oncology Review (COR) IRB panel, and eConsent. Blasingim holds an undergraduate degree in education, and an MBA specializing in leadership and has maintained her Certified IRB Professional certificate for 10 years. She provides training and educational sessions within the company, to researchers, and for professional learning groups and conferences across the research community and has also authored two training modules offered by CITI.
20. Amanda Kitts
Vice President Operations, RPM Living
Amanda Kitts is the Vice President of Operations for RPM Living, a full-service multifamily management company offering an innovative and personalized approach to real estate services. Kitts has over 24 years of experience in the multi-family housing industry. She has a plethora of experience creating and achieving aggressive but achievable budget models, including detailed capital improvements and value-added renovation opportunities. She is a strong leader and excels at identifying talent, and team building throughout her portfolio, as well as creative marketing opportunities and engaging social and networking opportunities.
Kitts was formerly the SVP of property management at Northwood Ravin, a privately held real estate investment firm. Before joining Northwood Ravin, she was the director of real estate for Greystar in Charlotte, NC. In her previous role, her portfolio consisted of high-rise, mid-rise, and garden deals. With a portfolio of 15,000 units, she was responsible for the overall property operations, performance objectives, and operational excellence for over 20 fee-managed clients. She has helped oversee dozens of successful lease-ups, and repositioning/rehab, as well as assist with property acquisitions and dispositions. Before working at Greystar, Kitts was a senior regional manager with Riverstone Residential Group in the Southeast. Her experience includes fee-managed, owner-managed, lease-up/new construction, affordable housing, and senior housing assets.
Kitts is the past president of the Greater Charlotte Apartment and a GCAA Leadership Lyceum graduate. She has been a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina since 2009. She earned the CAPS designation through the National Apartment Association in 2009 and has been a Certified Property Manager with IREM since 2017. In December 2019, Kitts won the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association award for Corporate Professional of the Year.
23. Diana Potts
CEO & Founder, The Center for Emerging Business
Diana Potts is the CEO and Founder of The Center for Emerging Business (TCFEB). Specifically designed to enhance and accelerate success, create jobs, and generate revenue for the region, TCFEB is a business development center specializing in business analysis and growth while fostering workforce development. The Fayetteville-based training center is a state-wide initiative that will serve multiple local jurisdictions and draw upon sustainable resources from within the community.
With over two decades of experience as a business owner engaged in Federal Government contracts and 13 years of service in the Army and subsequent work with the Federal Government, Potts brings a wealth of expertise to her current role. She was previously the OO at Fortuna BMC. Her profound knowledge extends to small and diverse businesses, as well as environmental and sustainability initiatives within the government. Potts collaborates with industry stakeholders and educational institutions to foster business growth and deliver training programs. From 2010 to 2012 and again from 2015 to 2016, she represented North Carolina as a delegate on the Small Business Advisory Board to the White House. Additionally, she is sought after as a consultant, speaker, writer, and educator, providing valuable guidance and instruction to various companies and groups.
Potts has actively contributed to numerous organizations in both advisory and leadership capacities. Notably, she played a crucial advisory role with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality during the cleanup efforts for Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Furthermore, she was among twenty esteemed environmental leaders in the nation selected to participate in a Green Sustainability panel held at the Pentagon. During this event, she made significant contributions to the authoring of the Department of Defense's Sustainability Plan, which serves as a model for 36 other agencies.
24. Allison Chan
Partner, Margaret W. Wong & Associates
Allison Chan is a Partner at Margaret W. Wong & Associates, LLC. She manages the law firm’s Raleigh, NC, Immigration Law Office. Her practice includes representing clients in all aspects of immigration with a focus on asylum, removal and deportation defense, complex family-based visa issues, motion practice before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and federal judicial review.
Chan has successfully reopened final orders of removal/deportation and represented hundreds of clients at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices around the country for visa petitions, adjustment of status, and naturalization interviews. She is passionate about the rights of undocumented people and committed to helping individuals seek and maintain lawful status and obtain citizenship in the US
Chan is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey. She is also admitted to practice before the US District Court, District of New Jersey. She earned an undergraduate degree in international relations from Boston University and a JD in law from the University of Buffalo School of Law.
View the complete list of awardees.
25. Shontera Gillespie-Coleman
Chief People Officer, Walker Auto and Truck
Shontera Gillespie-Coleman is the Chief People Officer of Walker Auto and Truck, a 50-year-old, family-run company with 65 locations in 33 North Carolina counties. Its culture is to be a hands-on family-owned and operated business with employees who truly feel they are members of the family and customers who value mutual partnerships.
Gillespie-Coleman is a strategic HR thought leader with over 28 years of HR experience. She is knowledgeable with expertise in all aspects of employee relations, including employment law, COBRA, HIPAA, and labor laws. She has additional expertise in talent management, employee training and development, problem-solving, leadership, and creation of job descriptions, an she is known for collaboration, consulting, strong communication, technical aptitude, and follow-through
Before joining Walker Auto and Truck, Gillespie-Coleman was a chief people officer at Luihn VantEdge Partners, LLC. Before that, she was an HR business partner at WellCare Health Plans. Earlier in her career, she worked with EPCOR Business Centers as an HR manager. Gillespie-Coleman graduated from Central Michigan University with an MSA in human resources, and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an undergraduate degree in labor and industrial relations.
26. Marie McLucas
Chief Financial Officer, Primax Properties
Marie McLucas is the Chief Financial Officer for Primax Properties and is responsible for oversight of policies and procedures for all financial functions, along with strategic and succession planning. Since joining Primax in 1995, McLucas has been instrumental in the successful completion of over 1000 projects in 35 states, including over 40 projects under development.
McLucas is a repeat mentor for CBJ’s Mentoring Monday event, CREW’s national and local formal mentor programs, and the NCACPA. She served on the boards of Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council, Career Mastered, American Cancer Society, CREW Charlotte, and CREW Network Foundation, holding many chair, officer, and co-chair positions. She was recently appointed to the FFTC Cabarrus County Community Foundation Board. She is actively involved in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the Primax Pink Warrior Team. McLucas has received numerous professional awards and recognitions from organizations, such as the NCACPA, Real Estate Forum Magazine, Connect Media, Globe St., CREW Network, Career Mastered, The Mecklenburg Times, and the Charlotte Business Journal. She earned her accounting degree from NC State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She enjoys fishing, golf, reading, and trail riding with her husband in her free time.
McLucas is an influencer in the Charlotte community because she generously gives her time and talent. She is passionate about the advancement of women and young professionals in the community. She has mentored hundreds of women over her professional tenure and continues to promote women. McLucas is dedicated to meeting the needs of the community and has served her community broadly. She has devoted her time to causes that align with her passion for giving and helping others. She is an active listener who is enthusiastic about helping mentees achieve their goals. She shows everyone respect, provides honest feedback, is an expert in the field of real estate, and has significant experience in the nonprofit sector.
27. Wendy John
Head of Global Diversity & Inclusion, Fidelity Investments
Wendy John is the Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion for Fidelity Investments. She is responsible for creating and attracting a more diverse workforce, tapping into the power of differences to develop and retain talent, creating a culture of inclusion, and showcasing Fidelity’s reputation and brand as an inclusive employer and service provider.
Wendy is a 25-year Fidelity veteran who has served in several key leadership roles across relationship management, client services/operations, global workforce strategy, program management, implementation, and benefits consulting. Most recently, she served as the Chief administrative officer of Fidelity Charitable, an independent 501(c)(3) public charity. In that role, she was responsible for overall risk, compliance, external communications, legislative policy, government relations, and associate engagement. Born in Trinidad & Tobago, she moved to Canada to attend the University of Waterloo after high school.
Wendy is based in Durham, NC, and has served on several local nonprofit boards, including the Johnson Service Corps. She is a current board member of the Research Triangle Foundation.
28. Christine Rutherford
Head of Growth, Rhythm Systems, Inc
Christine Rutherford is an outstanding business leader with exceptional skills and experience in the technology industry. She is a strong sales leader due to her significant contributions to the growth and success of her company, Rhythm Systems, as well as her pioneering efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in technology. As Head of Growth at Rhythm Systems, Rutherford is responsible for driving the company's growth strategy and customer acquisition. Through her leadership and expertise, the company has developed high-performance cultures and growth strategies that have helped achieve strategic goals for businesses. The innovative software platform and consulting services Rutherford has empowered teams to align their efforts with their company's overall strategy, track progress toward key objectives, and make data-driven decisions to drive success.
Rutherford’s extensive experience in the technology industry spans over a decade at Oracle, where she led alliances with the company's global technology solutions group. During her time at Oracle, she played a pivotal role in advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives within the company, making her a trailblazer for women in technology. Her pioneering work in promoting diversity and inclusion has extended beyond her time at Oracle, as she also served as a founder at PwC, where she was a leader in the firm's Women in Technology program.
Rutherford has been named to the Women of the Channel Power 100 list multiple times and was also recognized as a WITI & CRN Woman of the Channel. She has been a frequent speaker and panelist at industry events, sharing her insights on the latest trends and strategies in the tech industry. Her passion, drive, and determination make her a true inspiration and role model for women leaders in the tech industry. She actively mentors and advocates for women in tech, working to promote success and support the next generation of leaders in the field.
30. Katie Roudabush
Chief Marketing Officer, Alpine Intel
Katie Roudabush is the Chief Marketing Officer at Alpine Intel, a group of companies leading the space in nationwide property and specialty equipment investigation services for insurance providers.
She was promoted from the EVP of marketing, where she led the team responsible for all aspects of brand and product marketing, demand generation, communications, design, digital marketing, and paid advertising. In her years with the organization, she has navigated the marketing team through exponential growth, five acquisitions, a merger, two rebrands, and multiple product launches.
With over a decade of marketing experience, Roudabush is active in the Charlotte AMA chapter and enjoys consulting small businesses on marketing strategy. She has her undergraduate degree in communication studies from James Madison University in Virginia and currently lives in Gastonia, NC, with her husband and young daughter.
31. Patricia Tyner
Vice President of Human Resources, Ascom Americas
Patricia Tyner leads the Human Resources organization for Ascom Americas with employees based in the United States and Canada. She currently serves as a key member of Ascom’s regional leadership team. She draws on 20 years of executive-level experience to lead the company’s engagement on critical strategic and transformational change initiatives to drive the company’s move to a healthcare technology solutions provider. She employs a multi-faceted approach to provide a work environment that highlights employees, brand recognition, diversity, and innovation. She is always looking to find ways for the company to become more environmentally competent and inclusive. She is a strategic business partner for mission-critical initiatives to address the business challenges of revenue goals, attracting/retaining talent, and creating solutions for the hybrid/remote work environment while balancing budget and profitability objectives. As a result of her efforts, Ascom Americas recently was named a Most Loved Workplace Award for 2023.
Before joining Ascom, Tyner was the director of HR for a private equity firm in Raleigh, managing a full range of HR operations activities, including recruitment/selection, coaching, training and development, benefits/payroll, policy implementation, compliance, and federal and state employment law. Before relocating to North Carolina, Tyner was the director of HR at Blackstone Valley Community Healthcare in Rhode Island, where she led the HR and benefit administration of medical and dental clinics delivering clinical care to diverse underserved communities. She was also the VP of administration for an HR consulting company, Right Management Consultants, where she was involved in all aspects of the outplacement services to corporations during reductions in workforces.
Tyner holds an undergraduate degree in biology from SUNY Cortland, NY, and has a certificate as an HR professional (SHRM-SCP). When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time volunteering, gardening, and spending time with her husband and family. She and her husband enjoy traveling the world.
32. Rebecca Holland New
CEO & President, SNAP CPAP/Bleep Sleep
Rebecca Holland New is the CEO of SNAP CPAP/Bleep, LLC, an innovative medical device company treating breathing disorders, including sleep apnea. Under her leadership, the company was awarded a $1.7 million innovation grant from the National Institute of Science to develop the company’s next-generation sleep solution, developed Eclipse, the smallest continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) mask on the market, headgear-free, and the only clinically proven leak-free solution.
Under Holland New’s leadership, the company has realized eight times market growth in the last year and de-risked Bleep’s supply chain, while ensuring a strong quality operation. Holland New was responsible for launching a number one direct-to-consumer marketing campaign. Her efforts resulted in a 20% YOY improvement in expenses and a 50% adjusted EBITDA improvement in year one. The focus of the company is driving patient health outcomes and comfort, which leads to better compliance and reduced healthcare costs to the healthcare system, including revenue and margin improvements for distributors, hospitals, and payers.
Holland New’s career is unique as she has worked with large global public companies, start-ups, and nonprofits. Throughout her career, she has helped several leading companies, including Patheon, Novo Nordisk, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, expand market share, execute transformational business strategies, and complete several public market transactions. Her leadership successes have been widely recognized by key industry trade outlets, including, FiercePharma, Putnam Media, Healthcare Technology Report, and the Triangle Business Journal, where she has been cited as a top senior executive. Holland New received an MS in industrial labor relations and a BS in economics, marketing, and finance from Cornell University.
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34. Alyse Levine
Founder & CEO, Premium Prep College Counseling
Alyse Levine is the Founder and CEO of Premium Prep, one of the foremost college counseling firms in the country. Premium Prep matches students with elite counselors who share her passion for helping families successfully navigate the increasingly complex college admissions process.
Over the past 20 years, Levine has pioneered a student-centric, data-driven approach to college counseling, growing the company’s national and international presence while maintaining an extremely high corporate ethic. Most recently, Levine has developed proprietary software to augment that process and has launched PrepUp, a scholarship program that provides college counseling services to low-income students.
Before founding the company, Levine was associate director of college counseling at The Dalton School in New York City for over 10 years. Before that, she worked as assistant director of undergraduate admissions at Washington University in St. Louis and associate director of college counseling at the Dwight-Englewood School, in Englewood, New Jersey. Levine also served on the selection committee for the prestigious Robertson Scholars Program, a highly selective full-tuition scholarship collaboration between Duke University and the University of North Carolina. Levine received a Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in counseling from Hunter College and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, and she is a graduate of the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions.
35. Wendee Wechsberg
Director of the Substance Use, Gender and Applied Research Program, RTI International
Wendee Wechsberg is the Director of the Substance Use for the Gender and Applied Research Program at RTI International. As the founding director of the RTI Global Gender Center, Wechsberg has worked to create an environment of collaboration to address gender inequality and enhance RTI’s vision to address the world’s most critical problems with science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future with a gender lens.
Wechsberg has been an applied community-based and gender-focused NIH researcher since 1994 and began her career as a clinician. She directed outpatient and residential substance misuse treatment programs until the onset of HIV changed her trajectory. For more than 30 years, Wechsberg has devoted her career to applied research, using mixed methods to develop and test the efficacy of gender-focused HIV prevention interventions with key populations with substance misuse. Currently, she collaborates with teams addressing stigma at multiple levels and using biobehavioral approaches to end HIV.
Wechsberg has served as the principal investigator for North Carolina's domestic and global studies. She has over 200 publications in the areas of gender, ethnicity, outreach, HIV risk, adolescents, couples, and women. She is also an adjunct professor in psychology at North Carolina State University, in maternal and child health at UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, and in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. Wechsberg was selected as a Forbes’ Women 50 Over 50 Impact Honoree in 2022.
36. Amy Jucoski
Head of Legacy & Wealth Planning & Founding Partner, Callan Family Office
At Callan Family Office, Amy Jucoski is the Head of Legacy and Wealth Planning. She has provided financial and estate planning services to ultra-high-net-worth clients since 2002. Jucoski implements firm-wide solutions to drive consistency and effectiveness to meet the needs of clients and foster strategic relationships for the firm.
Before Callan Family Office, Jucoski was the senior director of legacy and wealth planning at Abbot Downing, Wells Fargo’s ultra-high-net-worth management business. She spent more than 27 years at Wells Fargo and Wachovia, a predecessor company. While at Wachovia, she served in the firm’s corporate tax office, where she was responsible for state tax return preparation. She also served as a manager in employee benefit disbursements, part of the Wachovia operational services division. Earlier in her career, Jucoski was a project manager at Wachovia, responsible for successfully leading some of the largest initiatives in Wachovia’s trust history.
Jucoski received her undergraduate degree in management from the University of Phoenix and holds a paralegal studies degree from Champlain College. A Certified Financial Planner, she was a board member of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership and the Winston-Salem Estate Planning Council. She has also served as a member of the personal financial planning committee for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA).
38. Stefanie Lamm
Regional Vice President of Sales, Healthcare and Life Sciences, MuleSoft
Stefanie Lamm is the Regional Vice President of Sales, Healthcare, and Life Sciences at MuleSoft, a software company headquartered in San Francisco, California, that provides integration software for connecting applications, data, and devices.
Lamm’s work has been dedicated to helping healthcare and life science organizations digitally transform and move beyond the legacy systems that keep them mired in the past. She is part of the Salesforce Women's Network, the oldest and largest Equality Group with over 12,000 women and allies globally. She is also a guest lecturer at New York University. Up until 2022, she was a strategic account manager at Salesforce before moving into her current role at MuleSoft.
Lamm graduated from New York University with an MA in music business management and marketing and from The University of New Mexico with an undergraduate degree in music performance.
39. Bethany Talbert
Vice President of Client Experience, The Brooks Group
Bethany Talbert is the VP of Client Experience of The Brooks Group. She provides overall leadership to The Brooks Group’s team of training program Project managers, facilitators, and other support personnel to ensure client expectations are exceeded, positive results are achieved in activity, knowledge transfer, and business outcomes, and client relationships are solidified and grown.
Talbert has 15 years of brand marketing and executive management experience and a proven track record of success developing, organizing, and growing teams and programs. An operational workhorse, visionary, and top-tier critical thinker, she excels in entering what is complex or ambiguous and executing the strategies that create cohesion. Talbert partners with executive leadership to actualize vision and ensure people and the systems in which they work are positioned for maximal growth and value.
Before Talbert joined The Brooks Group, she oversaw operational strategy at Carnegie, an industry-leading enrollment strategy and marketing firm. Earlier in her career, she worked as an editor and content strategist. Talbert earned an undergraduate degree in religion from Pepperdine University.
40. Suzy Jackson
Managing Director, Accenture
Suzy Jackson is a Managing Director at Accenture, looking after the North America Life Sciences Commercial Consulting Practice, and has personally worked with clients across five continents. She specializes in large-scale front-office transformations and embraces the challenge of delivering complex global programs to large pharmaceutical clients.
In addition to her role overseeing the commercial consulting practice, Jackson is the executive sponsor of Accenture Charlotte’s office’s inclusion and diversity efforts and is a proud supporter of both Safe Alliance and Planned Parenthood in Charlotte. She also provides keynote speeches, coaching, and training engagements via her LLC, SKJ Coaching, and specializes in the art of great communication and storytelling.
Outside of these endeavors, Jackson is an avid traveler, scuba diver, and wine enthusiast. Jackson graduated from King’s College in London.
41. Dana Killian
President & CEO, Carolina Caring
Dana Killian is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Carolina Caring, one of the most comprehensive and forward-thinking nonprofit serious illness care providers in the nation. Serving western North Carolina and the Charlotte Region, Carolina Caring is responsible for the care of thousands of patient interactions each year.
Killian joined Carolina Caring in January 2020 and quickly collaborated with the organization’s team to nurture a vision to be the first and best choice for serious illness care and to improve health, and access to hospice and palliative medicine services. In 2021, she helped to guide the organization’s expansion into primary care, which has grown exponentially as the nation’s healthcare delivery models continue to evolve.
Throughout her career, Killian has played a key role in the organizations she has served by increasing engagement with community partners and expanding access to care through innovative partnerships. She is passionate about protecting and expanding healthcare access to all who need it, better engaging with their communities to improve quality of life, and achieving equity of care. Killian serves on the Chamber of Catawba County board of directors and is a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association. She has also joined Chief, a prestigious network of female executives focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders. She has more than seven years of senior healthcare leadership experience, having strategically led nonprofit and for-profit managed healthcare organizations in rural and urban markets. She has also successfully led several population health and value-based programs, including Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and Bundled Payment Programs (BPCI-A).
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42. Holly Mills
Partner, Longleaf Law
Holly Mills is a Partner of Longleaf Law. Her practice focuses on commercial real estate development and finance. She represents clients on a range of sophisticated and complex real estate transactions, including multi-state acquisitions and dispositions, mixed-use developments, real estate portfolio transactions, master leases, sale-leasebacks and ground leases, private equity funding, and secured lending. She maintains a focus on active capital markets and fund practice, representing investors in joint venture transactions and sophisticated fund structures. Mills represents real estate developers, commercial lending institutions, and syndicators in real estate financing transactions, including acquisition, construction, and permanent financing of office, retail, hotel, manufactured housing, and multi-family projects throughout the United States.
Taking a client-focused approach to her real estate practice, Mills often acts as in-house counsel for her clients and becomes a trusted member of their businesses. She strives to guide her clients through complex deal transactions with an efficient, direct, and collaborative approach that helps them minimize risks through all the stages of owning, leasing, developing, and financing real estate. She is highly responsive and able to adeptly and efficiently handle any type of commercial real estate deal.
Before joining Longleaf Law Partners, Mills practiced as a real estate finance attorney at Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice. She received her JD from Emory Law School with the highest distinctions. While at law school, she was a managing editor of the Emory Law Journal, and she received the Myron Penn Laughlin Award for overall excellence in legal research and writing. Before law school, Mills graduated from the University of Georgia as a First Honor Graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA, all while serving as the University’s Panhellenic President.
43. Nicole Ducouer
Director, Corporate Communications and Community Engagement, Hanesbrands Inc.
At HanesBrands, Nicole Ducouer is the Director of Corporate Communications and Community Engagement responsible for developing the global corporate communications strategy, including, global public relations, top-tier media engagement, reputation management, executive thought-leadership, crisis communications, ESG communications, brand PR, social media, multimedia development, investor relations, community partnership development, and content creation.
Before HanesBrands, Ducouer was the senior director of corporate communications for IFB Solutions, a US-based manufacturer of goods through the AbilityOne Program. Ducouer spearheaded projects incorporating cross-department collaboration that positioned the $200 million nonprofit with eight divisions, including manufacturing and e-commerce, as the country’s largest employer for people who are blind. She also developed public affairs strategies resulting in the passage of legislation supporting IFB's mission of providing opportunities for people who are blind. During the COVID pandemic, Ducouer outlined an unprecedented crisis communications plan that reached employees across geographies and disabilities, stretching to critical contacts at the federal level of government.
Ducouer graduated from West Virginia University with an undergraduate degree in broadcast news.
44. Kristin Wharton
Executive Director of the Academic Resource Center, Wingate University
Kristin Wharton serves Wingate University as the Executive Director of the Academic Resource Center, which includes disability support services, tutoring and supplemental instruction, Student Success, and the Writing Center.
A higher education professional and first-generation college graduate, Wharton has brought her love of learning and compassion for supporting students' access and success to her work for many years. Before her current role in academic affairs, Wharton worked in student affairs and enrollment management. She serves as a member of the university’s DEI council and JED Mental Health task force, in addition to her other responsibilities.
Wharton is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Higher Education from Wingate University. A lifelong learner, she holds an undergraduate degree in English and a minor in communication studies from Wingate. She has a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She earned an education specialist degree from Appalachian State University in higher education, emphasizing adult and developmental education. She also received ADA Coordinator certification through the University of Missouri and the Great Plains ADA Center.
45. Holly Downs
Director, PropelNext Digital Learning Project, Center for Creative Leadership
In her role as project director for the PropelNext initiative within the Center for Creative Leadership's Societal Impact group, Holly Downs spearheaded the successful $17.2 million proposal for the initiative. She now oversees a team responsible for the creation, design, launch, and evaluation of this comprehensive program dedicated to magnifying the impact of high-potential nonprofit organizations. The PropelNext project empowers these nonprofits by fortifying their leadership capabilities, optimizing program design methodologies, and cultivating a data-driven approach to continuous learning and improvement. Leveraging a cutting-edge online platform, PropelNext fosters an environment conducive to sustained growth and maximized societal influence.
Downs has over 20 years of experience in leadership, research, and evaluation. Her area of inquiry is exploring learning and leadership development delivered via traditional, hybrid, and online learning environments. Before joining CCL, she served as an assistant professor for the Department of Educational Research Methodology and as the associate director of the Office of Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Services in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), where she received the 2014 Mentoring, Advising, and Supervising Faculty Award. She still serves as an adjunct professor at UNCG.
Downs earned a BS in education from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, an MEd in Education, and a PhD in Educational Psychology with a dual emphasis in Technology Studies and Evaluation from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
46. Emma Hilal
Director, Consumer & Digital Marketing US Portfolio, Merz Aesthetics
Emma Hilal is the Director of Consumer and Digital Marketing for the US Portfolio of Merz Aesthetics, a medical aesthetics business with a long history of empowering healthcare professionals, patients, and employees to live every day with confidence.
As a seasoned marketing executive, Hilal’s expertise lies in navigating high-stakes negotiations, leading diverse global teams, and leveraging strategic partnerships to amplify brand presence. She is dedicated to championing brands, and crafting and implementing comprehensive marketing strategies that extend market reach, increase revenue, and drive organizational growth.
Before joining Merz Aesthetics, Hilal was the head of social strategic ops at Lenovo. Before that, she was a brand marketing manager at Robert Bosch Tool Corporation NA. Earlier in her career, she worked with Philips as a trade marketing manager/consumer lifestyle. Hilal graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a master’s degree in digital media & storytelling and from Sup de Co with an MBA in marketing.
47. Cheryl Parquet
Director of Community Engagement & Marketing Activation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Cheryl Parquet is the Director of Community Engagement and Marketing Activation at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the state’s largest health insurer. She is responsible for the development and implementation of all corporate-based philanthropic initiatives, including community investments and outreach programs, employee volunteerism, sports sponsorships and activation, marketing events, and major community initiatives and strategic partnerships to help improve the health and wellness of North Carolinians.
Through her work at Blue Cross NC, Parquet pursues her passion for empowering communities and giving back. Recognizing the impact that socioeconomic status, access to basic needs, and limited educational opportunities can have on a person’s health, Parquet has been instrumental in raising awareness of these issues and ensuring that real and effective action is taken to address key drivers of health.
Parquet earned her undergraduate degree in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, holds a certificate in corporate social responsibility from Duke University, and a certificate in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University.
48. Jenene Seymour
Director of Diversity and Community Development, Rodgers Builders, Inc.
With over 15 years of wide-ranging executive leadership experience, Jenene Seymour is a diligent advocate for providing marginalized communities with equitable access to educational, social, and economic opportunities. As the Director of Diversity and Community Engagement at Rodgers Builders, she helps drive integrated efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her role includes facilitating internal initiatives to foster inclusion, championing engagement with small/diverse businesses, and activating philanthropic community partnerships.
Before Rodgers, Seymour served as executive director with Project One, where she oversaw daily operations, fund development, and program delivery to expand the organization’s financial and mentoring support for under-resourced college students. She also previously held leadership roles with Johnson C. Smith University and Foundation For The Carolinas, and served as VP for operations with NIA Construction, an MBE-certified general contracting firm.
Seymour is a dedicated community volunteer and currently serves on the board of directors of She Built This City and the Charlotte Advisory Board of Helps Education Fund. Her previous board membership includes Greater Steps Scholars, Right Moves For Youth, North Carolina Cyber Academy, and the ANSWER Scholarship. Seymour holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from Temple University. She earned a diploma in construction management from NC State University and is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the state of North Carolina.
49. Jessica Weickert
Senior Director of Strategy, XD Agency
Jessica Weickert is Senior Director of Strategy at XD Agency, an award-winning creative agency with production chops designing experiences for industry-defining brands.
Weickert has been with XD Agency since 2022, leading and building a diverse team of problem solvers who believe the right creative is smart creative and dig deep to uncover the human problem behind the business problem. Her team specializes in transforming brand promises into emotionally-charged experiential strategies and narratives and has helped many culture-shifting B2B and B2C brands deepen relationships with their audiences, in ways that matter most to them.
Before XD Agency, Weickert started her career developing creative, media, and marketing strategies at leading agencies, such as MullenLowe and QuickPivot in Boston, MA. Soon afterward, she was a director of strategy at George P. Johnson, designing experiences across IBM's global events, including their flagship conference Think, and their leadership presence at third-party events. Weickert earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing from Elon University and has a passion for travel, live music, and spending time with her husband and two young children in Wake Forest.
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